Brian Charles Lara-The cricket genius

Brian Charles Lara is often called as the Left Handed God of Cricket(nicknamed "The Prince of Port-of-Spain", "The Prince of Trinidad" or simply "The Prince")by his fans allover the world.He was born on 2nd May 1969 in a family of 11 children and he being the last..He has topped the Test batting rankings on several occasions where he holds the record for highest individual innings. He also holds the record for the highest individual score in first-class cricket, with a total of 501* for Warwick shire against Durham at Edgbaston in 1994, as well as the highest individual score in a test innings with 400 not out.

Lara was the record holder for the highest number of runs ever scored by a batsman in test cricket until he was surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar on 17 October, 2008. He is regarded as one of the finest batsmen ever to have played the game.

Early cricket career .....

1987 was a breakthrough year for Lara, when in the West Indies Youth Championships he scored 498 runs beating the record of 480 by Carl Hooper set the previous year.[1] He captained the Trinidad and Tobago team at this tournament whom eventually won the tournament due to a match winning 116 from Lara.

In January 1988, Lara made his first-class debut for Trinidad and Tobago in the Red Stripe Cup against Leeward Islands. In his second first-class match he made 92 against a Barbados attack containing Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall, two greats of West Indies teams. Later in the same year, he captained the West Indies team in Australia for the Bicentennial Youth World Cup where the West Indies reached the semi-finals. Later that year, his innings of 182 as captain of the West Indies under 23 XI against the touring Indian team elevated his reputation even further.

His first selection for the full West Indies team followed in due course, but unfortunately coincided with the death of his father and Lara withdrew from the team. In 1989, he captained a West Indies B Team in Zimbabwe and scored 145.

In 1990, at the age of 20, Lara became Trinidad and Tobago's youngest ever captain, leading them that season to victory in the one-day Geddes Grant Shield. It was also in 1990 that he made his belated Test debut for West Indies against Pakistan, scoring 44 and 5. He had made his ODI debut a month earlier against Pakistan, scoring 11. In the 1992 World Cup Lara did well averaging 47.57 with a highest score of 88 retired hurt.

In January 1993, Lara scored 277 versus Australia in Sydney, this was his maiden Test century in his fifth Test, this innings was the turning point of the series as West Indies won the final two Tests to win the series 2-1.Lara went on to name his daughter Sydney after scoring 277 at SCG.
Lara holds several world records for high scoring. He has the highest individual score in both first-class cricket (501 not out for Warwickshire against Durham in 1994) and Test cricket (400 not out for the West Indies against England in 2004). Lara amassed his world record 501 in 474 minutes off only 427 balls. He hit 308 in boundaries (10 sixes and 62 fours). His partners were Roger Twose (115 partnership - 2nd wicket), Trevor Penney (314 - 3rd), Paul Smith (51 - 4th) and Keith Piper (322 unbroken - 5th). Earlier in that season Lara scored six centuries in seven innings while playing for Warwickshire.

Career ......

He is the only man to have reclaimed the Test record score, having scored 375 against England in 1994, a record that stood until Matthew Hayden's 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003. His 400 not out also made him the second player after Donald Bradman to score two Test triple-centuries, and the second after Bill Ponsford to score two first-class quadruple-centuries. He has scored nine double centuries in Test cricket, second only to Bradman's twelve.

Lara captained the West Indies from 1998 to 1999 in this period West Indies suffered their first whitewash at the hands of South Africa following this they played Australia in a four Test series which was drawn 2-2, Lara scored 546 runs including two centuries and one double hundred. In the second Test at Kingston he scored 213 while in the third Test he scored 153* in the second innings as West Indies chased down 311 with one wicket left. He won the Man of the Match award for both matches and was also named Man of the Series.

In 2001 Lara was named the Man of the Carlton Series in Australia with an average of 46.50 the highest average by a West Indian in that series scoring two half centuries and one century, 116 against Australia. Also in that year Lara amassed 688 runs in the three match away Test series against Sri Lanka making three centuries and one fifty including a double century and a century in the first and second innings of the 3rd Test Match at the Sinhalese Sports Ground making 46% of the team's runs in that series.This is the only second instance a Single batsmen had scored more than 40% of his team runs against any opponents after the Legendary Sir Don Bradman. These extraordinary performances led Muttiah Muralitharan to state that Lara was the most dangerous batsman he had ever faced.

Lara was reappointed as captain against the touring Australians in 2003, and struck 110 in his first Test match back in charge, showing signs of him returning to his best. Later that season under his captaincy West Indies won the two match Test series against Sri Lanka 1-0 with Lara making a double century in the First Test. In September 2004, West Indies won the ICC Champions Trophy in England under his captaincy.

In March 2005, Lara declined selection for the West Indies team because of a dispute over his personal Cable & Wireless sponsorship deal, which clashed with the Cricket Board's main sponsor, Digicel. Six other players were involved in this dispute, including stars Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo. Lara said he declined selection in a stand of solidarity, when these players were dropped because of their sponsorship deals. The issue was resolved after the first Test of the series against the touring South African team.

Lara returned to the team for the second Test (and scored a huge first innings score of 196), but in the process lost his captaincy indefinitely to the newly-appointed Shivnarine Chanderpaul. In the next Test, against the same opponents, he scored a 176 in the first innings. After a one day series against South Africa, he scored his first Test century against the visiting Pakistanis in the first Test at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados which the West Indies eventually won.

On 26 April 2006 Lara was reappointed the captain of the West Indies cricket team for the third time. This followed the resignation of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who had been captain for thirteen months - in which the West Indies won just one of the 14 Test matches they had competed. In May 2006, Lara led the West Indies to successful One-Day series victories against Zimbabwe and India. Lara's team played Australia in the finals of the DLF Cup and the ICC Champions Trophy where they finished runners up in both finals.

On 16 December 2006 he became the first player for the West Indies to pass 10,000 One Day International runs. along with Sachin Tendulkar one of only two players to do so in both forms of the game. On 10 April 2007 Lara confirmed his retirement from one day cricket post the 2007 Cricket World Cup. A few days later he announced that he would in fact be retiring from all international cricket after the tournament.

Lara played his final international game on 21 April 2007 in a dead rubber World Cup game against England. He was run out for 18; England won the game. Before the end of this world cup Glenn McGrath stated that Lara is the greatest batsman that he has ever bowled to.

Highlights ........

* Lara struck 277 runs against Australia in Sydney, his maiden Test century, the fourth highest maiden Test century by any batsman,the highest individual score in all Tests between the two teams and the fourth-highest century ever recorded against Australia by any Test batsman.
* He became the first man to score seven centuries in eight first-class innings, the first being the record 375 against England and the last being the record 501 not out against Durham.
* After Matthew Hayden had eclipsed his Test record for highest individual score 375 by five runs in 2003, he reclaimed the record scoring 400 not out in 2004 against England. With these innings he became the second player to score two Test triple centuries, the second player to score two career quadruple centuries, the only player to achieve both these milestones, and regained the distinction of being the holder of both the record first-class individual innings and the record Test individual innings.
* In the same innings, he became the second batsman to score 1000 Test runs in five different years, four days after Matthew Hayden first set the record.
* He was the all-time leading run scorer in Test cricket, a record he attained on 26 November 2005 until surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar on 17 October 2008.
* He was the fastest batsmen to score 10,000 (with Sachin Tendulkar) and 11,000 Test runs, in terms of number of innings.
* He scored 34 centuries; joint-third along with Sunil Gavaskar, on the all-time list behind Sachin Tendulkar (41) and Ricky Ponting (36).
* He has the most centuries for a West Indian[19]
* Nine of his centuries are double centuries (surpassed only by Donald Bradman)[12]
* Two of them are triple-centuries (matched by Bradmanand India's Virender Sehwag).
* He has scored centuries against all Test-playing nations. He achieved this feat in 2005 by scoring his first Test century against Pakistan at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
* He became only the sixth batsman to score a century in one session, doing so against Pakistan on 21 November 2006.
* Lara has scored an astonishing 20% of his team runs, a feat surpassed only by Bradman (23%). Lara scored 688 runs (46% of team output, a record for a series of three or more Tests, and the second highest aggregate runs in history for a three-Test series) in the 2001-02 tour of Sri Lanka.
* He also scored a century and a double century in the third Test in that same Sri Lanka tour, a feat repeated only five other times in Test cricket history.
* The first was the unenviable one of becoming the batsman to score the most runs (351 for both innings) on a losing side in a Test.
* The second record was that he became the batsman to score the largest proportion (53.83 per cent) of his team's runs in a Test (221 out of 390 and 130 out of 262). He eclipsed the long-standing record of 51.88 per cent by the South African J. H. Sinclair (106 out of 177 and 4 out of 35) against England at Capetown in an 1898 - 1899 series.

* Lara holds the world record of scoring most runs in a single over (28 runs against left-arm spinner RJ Peterson of South Africa) in Test cricket. He also scored 26 runs in a single over off the bowling of Danish Kaneria at Multan Cricket Stadium on 21 November 2006.
* He scored the ninth fastest Test century, doing so off 77 balls against Pakistan on 21 November 2006.
* With 164 catches, He is the fourth all-time catch-taker of non-Wicketkeepers, behind Mark Waugh, Rahul Dravid, and Stephen Fleming.
* In 1994, he was awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality Award. In 1995, he was chosen as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year.
* Comfortably averaging over 50 per innings (the benchmark for batting greatness in Test cricket), Lara has been ranked the number one batsman in Test cricket in the PricewaterhouseCoopers Cricket Ratings several times.
* Lara has played some of his best innings in recent years. Wisden published a top 100 list in July 2001, a distillation of the best performances from 1,552 Tests, 54,494 innings and 29,730 bowling performances. Three innings by Lara were placed in the top 15 (the most for any batsman in that range).[29] His heroic 153 not out in Bridgetown, Barbados, during West Indies' 2-2 home series draw against Australia in *1998-1999 was deemed the second greatest Test innings ever played, behind Bradman's 270 against England in the Third Test of the 1936–1937 series at Melbourne. On 13 October 2003, PricewaterhouseCoopers Ratings team published a list of top innings since 1990 under their own methodology. Lara's 213 against Australia in Kingston, Jamaica in 1999 came out to be the top innings. His 375 was placed 8th and his three other innings, including the 153 not out, were not far behind.

Tremendously gifted, Brian Lara remains one of the most exciting players in the world. He holds the world record for the highest Test and first-class score, 375 and 501 respectively. Despite this, many will look back on Lara's career with a hint of disappointment. On form and on song he is irresistible, but he is susceptible to losing form, confidence and application.

Left-handers generally look elegant, and Lara is no exception. A short man, he has a slightly squat stance, an exaggerated, open backlift and lightning feet. In defence, he is studious yet stylish, and his aggressive shots are played with a dismissive flourish. Ruthless through the covers, Lara is able to destroy any bowling attack. His build is not that of a big hitter, but he is keen to take on the spinners and hit over the top with ferocity and power. He is also a fine, solid slip catcher.

Unsurprisingly, Lara scored heavily as a youngster. Encouraged by his father Bunty, who would die before his son played a Test match, Lara was given professional coaching. He excelled for his college, and had his first taste of first-class cricket as a teenager. In his second game for Trinidad, he fell just short of a century against a Barbados attack containing Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall. Lara first toured with the full West Indies side in 1990/91. He played one Test and one ODI on the tour to Pakistan, scoring 44 in his first Test innings. He toured England in 1991, but a strong batting line-up kept him out of the side.

Lara broke into the Test team again in West Indies home Test against South Africa. He made 64 in the second innings. He had already established himself in the one-day side, hitting several half centuries in the World Cup.

No-one since Bradman has built massive scores as often and as fast as Lara in his pomp. Even his stance was thrilling - the bat raised high in the air, the weight poised on a bent front knee, the eyes low and level. Then the guillotine would fall, sending the ball flashing to the boundary. Being the batsmen in the world always have been a constant pressure on him to perform everytime he walked in to bat. Leading a side where he was by far and away the genius player and the rest of the team members turned out be a mere ordinary cricketers fighting against the world's best cricketers & teams.I always felt that, if few of his team batsmen had supported him in scoring some runs and showed few resistance Lara would have won a lot of matches and the face of the current west indies cricket would have be a much vibrant and strong force to reckon in the world arena.As Lara rightly said in a polished and very humble manner when he thanked his team mate chanderpaul for being with him almost thoughout his career before he left the australian soil for the last time.

Test Centuries of Brian Lara

Runs Match Against Venue Year Result
[1] 277 5 Australia Sydney Cricket Ground 1993 Drawn
[2] 167 13 England Bourda 1993 Won
[3] 375 16 England Antigua Recreation Ground 1994 Drawn
[4] 147 21 New Zealand Basin Reserve 1995 Won
[5] 145 29 England Old Trafford 1995 Won
[6] 152 30 England Trent Bridge 1995 Drawn
[7] 179 31 England Kennington Oval 1995 Won
[8] 132 38 Australia W.A.C.A. Ground 1997 Won
[9] 103 42 India Antigua Rec Ground 1997 Drawn
[10] 115 45 Sri Lanka Arnos Vale Ground 1997 Drawn
[11] 213 61 Australia Sabina Park 1999 Won
[12] 153* 62 Australia Kensington Oval 1999 Won
[13] 100 63 Australia Antigua Recreation Ground 1999 Lost
[14] 112 68 England Old Trafford 2000 Drawn
[15] 182 73 Australia Adelaide Oval 2000 Lost
[16] 178 81 Sri Lanka Galle Stadium 2001 Lost
[17] 221 83 Sri Lanka SSC Ground 2001 Lost
[18] 130 83 Sri Lanka SSC Ground 2001 Lost
[19] 110 91 Australia Bourda 2003 Won
[20] 122 92 Australia Queen’s Park Oval 2003 Won
[21] 209 95 Sri Lanka Beausejour Stadium 2003 Won
[22] 191 98 Zimbabwe Queen’s Sport Club 2003 Won
[23] 202 99 South Africa New Wanderers Stadium 2003 Lost
[24] 115 101 South Africa Newlands 2004 Drawn
[25] 400* 106 England Antigua Rec Ground 2004 Drawn
[26] 120 108 Bangladesh Sabina Park 2004 Won
[27] 196 113 South Africa Queen’s Park Oval 2005 Lost
[28] 176 114 South Africa Kensington Oval 2005 Lost
[29] 130 116 Pakistan Kensington Oval 2005 Won
[30] 153 117 Pakistan Sabina Park 2005 Won
[31] 226 121 Australia Adelaide Oval 2005 Lost
[32] 120 126 India Beausejour Stadium 2006 Drawn
[33] 122 129 Pakistan Gadaffi Stadium 2006 Lost
[34] 216 130 Pakistan Multan Cricket Stadium 2006 Drawn


ODI Centuries of Brian Lara

Runs Match Against Venue Year Result
[1] 128 41 Pakistan Kingsmead 1993 Won
[2] 111* 42 South Africa Springbok Park 1993 Won
[3] 114 45 Pakistan Sabina Park 1993 Won
[4] 153 54 Pakistan Sharjah C.A. Stadium 1993 Won
[5] 139 83 Australia Queen’s Park Oval 1995 Lost
[6] 169 90 Sri Lanka Sharjah C.A. Stadium 1995 Won
[7] 111 96 South Africa National Stadium 1996 Won
[8] 146* 100 New Zealand Queen’s Park Oval 1996 Won
[9] 104 102 New Zealand Arnos Vale Ground 1996 Won
[10] 102 108 Australia Brisbane Cricket Ground 1997 Won
[11] 103* 109 Pakistan W.A.C.A Ground 1997 Won
[12] 110 125 England Kensington Oval 1998 Lost
[13] 117 157 Bangladesh Bangabandhu Nat. Stadium 1999 Won
[14] 116* 176 Australia Sydney Cricket Ground 2001 Lost
[15] 111 202 Kenya Sinhalese Sports Club Ground 2002 Won
[16] 116 203 South Africa Newlands 2003 Won
[17] 116 217 Sri Lanka Kensington Oval 2003 Lost
[18] 113 219 Zimbabwe Queens Sports Club 2003 Won
[19] 156 250 Pakistan Adelaide Oval 2005 Won

Despite the peaks and troughs, Lara is still enjoying a fine career. The comparison with Sachin Tendulkar is often made, and most experts would concede that both are far better batsman than cricket has witnessed, But there can be few sights more thrilling in cricket than Brian Charles Lara in full flow.After all these two have been called as the two hands of the GOD OF CRICKET !

The best I've seen in him is that he had the highest individual score record in a single test innings for about 10 years.. He scored 375 against England in Antigua Recreation Ground (dedicated to Sir Vivian Richards). One of the best innings by a test batsman. The record was broken by Mathew Hayden of Australia 10 yrs after the record was set. Everyone thought that the record will stay for a long time, but Lara had different plans as he went on to break the record by scoring a tremendous 400* against England in the very same ground he scored 375 before 10 years.. It was the first time international cricket board showed 400 mark for a batsman.. It was considered one of the best knocks of Test cricket .. He has lead the West Indian team for victory single handedly in several occasions..

He is considered a genius not only because he score a 375 and 400* and has the world record.. But because he could do that even after a 10 year gap. His ability to bounce back strongly and in a commanding manner even against the toughest opponents is what makes even his contemporary cricketers to look amazed and honour him. he has done it on several occasions and has proved that he can always perform at the most even when his teammates have left him down / his team is in a losing stage.Often he has not got the right support from his team batsmen and thus Lara was always left alone to fight the battles which he did carry in sizzzling manner.When he retired from all forms of cricket in front of his home crowd, lots and lots of people around the world had tears in their eyes and couldn't believe that it was an end of a Genius whom even the God would have like to watch for a couple of more years.But then Destiny is always pre written and cannot be changed as when things happen. Long live the Genius, the legend, the Master Blaster who proved to be a mortal by physical appearance and was really an Immortal on the field.

The last that West Indies cricket board could do for Brian Lara was to give a Brand new 45000 seating capacity ground & stadium by his name " The Brian Lara Ground ".

" Did I Entertain " - the last words which the Legend asked at his fans, turned every single soul filled with tears showed the modesty of this Big Man of world cricket. He came, played the game,conquered it, demolished the opponents and evoked fear on all individuals & teams who stepped against him....

Sir You always entertained your fans and made your opponents in turn speak about its effect later ....

I salute & Thank you Mr. Brian Lara, for the immense pleasure, joy and knowledge you gave me with your terrific performances for 17 years in the International Arena in both the Test & ODI cricket. You were solely Responsible for me (In fact Many around the world )to play this game to an extent which i have played to the best of my abilities.

Certainly i can explain his career as " The Best Here Is , The Best Here Was, The Best Who Ever Will Be In " in the world of cricket !!!